Laurent Robert is hoping to get his international career back on track - even if it means a 48-hour return trip to Australia next month.

The Newcastle United winger was not in the original French squad for the friendly in Melbourne on Sunday, November 11.

But now FIFA have recommended that France - and Australia - select a minimum of one player from each club for the game.

FIFA's action follows a petition organised by Arsenal and signed by 11 of the most powerful clubs in Europe but it was opposed by the Aussies today.

United have not been involved, for after being informed by the French FA that Robert was in the squad for the game he was subsequently not selected.

But if the one player per club rule is implemented there is going to be massive holes in the French squad that will have to be filled.

Arsenal have four current French internationals in Thierry Henry, Sylvain Wiltord, Patrick Vieira and Robert Pires, while Chelsea have three in Emmanuel Petit, William Gallas and Marcel Desailly.

French journalist Xavier Rivoire who looks after the Premiership for his Paris-based news paper said today: "If this FIFA recommendation is taken up then Robert could be one of the players called up.

"But having said that,

France has so many outstanding players that this is only a possibility."

Robert, who has nine caps for his country, is desperate to get back into the French line-up with the World Cup finals looming next May.

However, United would obviously be a trifle concerned at Robert being forced to endure two 24-hour flights in a matter of days, - especially as they have allowed Nobby Solano to return to South America for Diego Maradona's testimonial match.

There are no Premiership games that weekend as the two days were put set aside for the World Cup play-offs.

But if Robert were to be recalled by France he would not be back on Tyneside until the middle of the following week.

Meanwhile, Kevin Keegan today talked about the kind of players he needs at Manchester City to take the club into the Premiership - and Robert Lee fitted the bill perfectly.

Lee will return to training with United in the next couple of days to see if he is fit to travel to Merseyside on Friday for the game at Everton the following day.

Bobby Robson, who took in the Tees-Wear derby on Monday night, gave his first- team squad yesterday off as they started their preparations today for Saturday and Goodison Park.

Andy Griffin will have had the benefit of another week's training after his groin trouble caused him to miss United's last three matches.

And the Wigan-born Griffin would love to be involved against Everton on Saturday - the team he supported when he was a boy.